A Plum assignment in Lyric's 'Three Tall Women'

Lenny Megliola

Thursday

Mar 27, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 27, 2008 at 6:00 PM

The latest Veloudos/Plum connection goes up this weekend at Lyric Stage, with Plum starring in "Three Tall Women," a powerful Edward Albee play. Veloudos never hesitates when casting a production in which he envisions Plum. "If I have a part for her, she gets it."

It didn't take long for a plum to become the apple of Spiro Veloudos' eye.

That would be Paula Plum. The first time Veloudos saw her on stage, in 1984, he knew he had to direct the gifted actress. "The following year, we started working together," says Veloudos.

He directed Plum in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Publick Theatre. It was the beginning of a long and, well, fruitful association. Veloudos estimates he's cast Plum in seven or eight productions, most of them now at the prestigious Lyric Stage Company of Boston, where Veloudos is artistic director and one of the city's leading impresarios.

The latest Veloudos/Plum connection goes up this weekend at Lyric Stage, with Plum starring in "Three Tall Women," a powerful Edward Albee play. Veloudos never hesitates when casting a production in which he envisions Plum. "If I have a part for her, she gets it."

Plum has become one of Boston's busiest actors. That doesn't happen serendipitously. Plum was running her lines for "Three Tall Women" by day while at night appearing in "The Clean House" at the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown. Next month, she's in "History Boys" at Boston's Speakeasy. Another play, another script. "It's insane," says Plum.

Insane, but sublime too. "I'm very blessed I have so much work. It's been such a great year."

After all, this is the life she's chosen, and the choice was made a long time ago. Plum attended a Catholic grammar school in Lynn.

"The nuns let me script book reports, then act them out," says Plum. Where did this inclination come from? "I was inspired by Julie Andrews movies."

The next plateau was high school drama club. "There was no turning back after that," says Plum. She majored in theater and acting at Boston University. "They were tough years. It was a very rigorous program." BU was also a place of discovery. "People said, 'you're funny.' I said, 'I'm not funny."' She was wrong, happily.

"BU was a turning point," says Plum. "I realized I could do comedy."

There are some funny lines in "Three Tall Women," but the laughs are incidental. Plum, Anne Scurria and Liz Hayes play a woman at different ages of her life. The play builds to a stunning finish.

"The three of them are well-suited for this play," says Veloudos.

Plum says the play is "an amazing tour for an actress." The play has an autobiographical bent relating to Albee's mother, who adopted him.

"They had a very cantankerous relationship. He didn't see her for 20 years. There was so much animosity between them. You'll see why," says Plum.

As she digested the script, Plum wondered "how does (Albee) understand this woman so completely, and get deep into her soul?"

"Three Tall Women" examines the life of the woman at 21, 52 and 91 years of age. Plum plays her at 52. The three actresses are on stage the entire play.

"I really like Albee's writing," says Veloudos. "His storytelling is always interesting. He's very specific in the way he writes."

Plum is married to playwright Richard Sneed. You can imagine what busy lives they live.

"We sometimes have dinner together," she says. Down time is rare for Plum. "I'd like to take the piano up. We have one in the living room. But I have no time to practice."

Alluding to "The Clean House," which closed Sunday, Plum says, "we don't have a clean house." Too busy for that. That's OK, though, because Plum understands there are scores of good actors who find little or no work, "I feel more motivated" to perform.

Boston is a good place for an actor these days. The theater scene seems to be thriving. "Oh definitely," says Plum. "People want to be here. In New York, you want to work. In Boston, you work."

A return to the Lyric is always a kick for actor and director. "Paula always brings something creative (to a play)," says Veloudos. "She questions the script. She questions my direction."

Plum has come a long way from the first time she hooked up with Veloudos. "I was a hot box girl in 'Guys and Dolls,"' she recalls.

The journey continues, the steady work a testimony to her talent.

"I wanted to be an actress," she says. There was no second choice. What she brings to the stage is uniquely hers. Spiro knows it. Audiences have come to sense it.

Paula Plum is balancing multiple scripts, a good time in any actor's life.

Lenny Megliola is a Daily News columnist. His Lenny-at-Large theater features appear regularly in the arts & entertainment sections. His e-mail is lennymegs@aol.com.

FYI:

WHAT: "Three Tall Women"

WHEN: March 28-April 26

WHERE: The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 149 Clarendon St.

COST: $25-$54

INFO: 617-585-5678; lyricstage.com

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